LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 




013 701573 • 



E 483 ^ ' ' '^0/ 

■^ CONSTITUTION 

.fll 

Copy 1 



-OF THE- 




UNITED SONS OF 



CONFEDERATE 



-VETERANS 



Revised and Adopted at the Seventh Annual Reunion, 
^ ^ Dallas, Texas, April 22d to 25th, 1902. 

eterari 



4 



WM. F. ROWER & CO. PRINTERS. 



105 N. lltH STREET, ST, LOUIS 



PRKAIVIBLE. 



Believing tliat a general Confederation of all constituted 
organizations of Sons of Confederate Veterans will assist 
in tlie accomplishment of the cherished purposes that each 
))od3^ is singly laboring to carry out, and to more firmly 
establish the ties which already exist between ^-^em and 
the United Confederate Veterans and Veteran Camps : 

We, the representatives of the Camps, in convention as- 
sembled, at Richmond, Virginia, on this first day of July, 
1891), do adopt, ordain and establish the following consti- 
tution : 

(Revised and adopted at the Seventh Annual Re-union, 
held at'Dallas, Tex., April 22-25, 1902. 

ARTICLE I. 
TITLE. 

.Sec. 1.— This Confederation of Sons of Confederate Vet- 
erans shall be known as the UNITED SONS OF CON- 
FEDERATE VETERANS. 

ARTICLE II. 
OBJEOTS. 

Sec. 2.— The objects and purposes of this Organization 
shall be strictly "Historical and Benevolent." It will strive: 

Sec. 3.— To unite in one general Confederation all Asso- 
ciations of Sons of Confederate Veterans, Soldiers, and 
Sailors, now in existence, or hereafter to be formed, and to 
aid and assist the United Confederate Veterans and all 
Veteran Camps. 



-4— 

, Sec. 4.— To cultivate the ties of friendship that should 
exist among those whose ancestors have shared common 
dangers, sufferings and privations. 

See. 5.— To encourage the writing by participants there- 
in, of accounts, narratives, memoirs, histories of battles, 
episodes and occurrences of the war between the States. 

Sec. 6.— To gather authentic data, statistics, documents, 
reports, plans, maps and other material for an impartial 
history of the Confederate side; to collect and preserve 
relics and mementoes of the war; to make and perpetuate 
a record of the service of CA^ery member of the United 
Confederate Veterans, and all other living Confederate 
Veterans, and, as far as possible, of those of their com- 
rades who have preceded them into eternity. 

Sec. 7.— To see that the disabled are cared for; that a 
helping hand is extended to the needy, and that neeuy 
Confederate Veterans' widows and orphans are protected 
and assisted. 

Sec. 8.— To urge and aid the erection of enduring monu- 
ments to our great leaders and heroic soldiers, sail<5rs, and 
people, and to mark with suitable headstones the graves of 
Confederate dead wherever found. 

Sec. 9.— To instill into our descendants a proper venera- 
tion for the spirit and the glory of our fathers, and to 
bring them into association with our Confederation, that 
they may aid us in accomplishing ou" objects and purpos- 
es, and finally succeed us and take up our work where we 
may leave it. 

ARTICLE III. 
ORGANIZATION. 

Sec. 10.— The several constituted bodies of this Confeder- 
ation shall be as follows: 

First— Of organizations, known as Camps; each Camp 
to have a name, and be assigned a number in the order in 
which it is admitted into this Confederation. 



/ 



— 5— 

Second.— Of sub-divisions of States to be known as 
Brigades. 

Third.— Of State Organizations to be known as Divisions. 

Fourth.— Of Organizations of States to be known as De- 
partments. 

ARTICLE IV. 

MEMBERSHIP. 

Sec. 11. — All male descendants of those who served in the 
Confederate Army or Navy to the end of the war, or who 
died in prison or while in actual service, or who were killed 
in battle, or who were honorably retired or discharged, shall 
be eligible for membership in the Camps of this Confedera- 
titDn, provided no member under sixteen years of age shall 
have the right to vote. Provided no member shall be 
admitted under twelve years of age. 

Sec. 13. — Every Camp shall exact satisfactory proof of the 
above from each applicant, and secure a certified copy of the 
ancestor's record on a suitable blank, for preservation. 

ARTICLE V. 
OFFICERS— ELECTION— TERM OF OFFICE. 

Sec. 13.— The officers of this Confederation shall be one 
(1) Commander-in-Chief, its Supreme Executive head; three 
(3) Department Commanders, who shall command and be 
executive heads of the Departments; Division Commanders, 
who shall command and be executive heads of the Di- 
visions; Brigade Commanders, who shall be in charge of 
Brigades. 

Sec. 14.— The Commander-in-Chief and Department Com- 
manders shall be elected by the delegates at the Re-union 
of the Confederation, a majority of the votes cast to elect. 

Sec. 15.— The Division Commanders and Brigade Com- 
manders shall be elected by the delegates from the Camps 
within their respective commands, at a convention held at 
such time and place, and under the supervision of such of- 



fleers as the Department Commander within which the State 
or Territory is located may direct; provided, however, thai 
when a Division or Brigade has been once organized its 
elections shall be held in such manner, and at snch time 
and place as has been determined at its last Annual Con- 
vention by its delegates. ^ 

Sec. 16.— In case a Division which has elected a Division 
Commander shall fail to hold an annual reunion, or to elect 
a successor in case the reunion is held, a vacancy shall be 
deemed to exist which may be filled in like manner as other 
vacancies. 

Sec. 17.— General, Department, Division, and Brigade Of- 
ficers shall be elected by ballot, and shall assume command 
at the close of the convention at which they were elected. 
The retiring officer shall remain in command until every 
function of that reunion is discharged. 

Sec. 18. All officers shall be elected or appointed for 
one year, and until their successors assume command. 

Sec. 19.— Vacancies occurring among officers shall be 
filled until the next Annual Re-union, hj the Commander- 
in-Chief, upon the recommendation of the Division or De- 
partment in which it occurs. 

Sec. 20.— Each . Commander-in-Chief who has served a 
full term and does not continue to hold the office shall 
have the title of Past Commander-in-Chief, shall be a 
member, ex-officio, of all Annual Re-unions, and entitled 
to all the rights and privileges of a full member thereof, 
and shall take rank in the parade and in all other respects 
next to the Commander-in-Chief. He shall be entitled to 
wear the uniform of a Commander-in-Chief, with the addi- 
tions of the letter "P" before the wreaths and the letter 
"C" after them. Those who shall not have served a full 
term may have these privileges conferred on them by mo- 
tion, receiving four-fifths of the votes cast at any General 
Re-union. . 



— 7— 
STAFF OFFICERS. 

Sec. 21.— Stafe Officers sliall be appointed by the different 
Commanders to serve during such Commanders' office or 
pleasure. No Staff Officers shall be at the same time a 
Staff Officer of a Brigade or Division or hold two Staff Of- 
fices. 

Sec. 22.— The Staff of the Commander-in-Chief shall be 
as follows: One Adjutant-General, Chief of Staff, one In- 
spector-General, one Quartermaster-General, one Commis- 
sary-General, one Judge-Advocate-General, .one Surgeon- 
General, one Chaplain-General, and such assistants and 
aides as in his judgment may be necessary. 

Sec. 23.— Department Staff.— Department Commanders 
shall be allowed the same regular Staff as the Comman- 
der-in-Chief, and such assistants and aides as they may 
deem necessary, but they shall be known as Department 
Adjutant, Department Inspector, Department Quartermas- 
ter, Department Commissary, etc., etc. 

Sec. 24.— Division Staff.— Division Commanders shall be 
allowed the same regular Staff as the Department Com- 
mander, but they shall be known as Division Adjutant, Di- 
vision Inspector, etc., etc. 

Sec, 25.— Brigade Staff.— Brigade Commanders shall be 
allowed one Brigade Adjutant, one Brigade Inspector, and 
one Brigade Quartermaster as their Staff. 

Sec. 26.— No one can be elected or appointed an officer of 
this Confederation, or its Subordinate Departments, Divis- 
ions or Brigades, or their Staff, unless he be a member of 
one of its Camps. 

ARTICLE VI. 

DUTIES OF OFFICERS— COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF. 

Sec. 27.- The Commander-in-Chief shall be the head of 
this Confederation, and shall enforce its Constitution, Rules 
and Regulations, and the will of its Annual Re-union, and. 



— 8— 

to this effect lie may issue all necessary orders. He shall 
preside over the Annual Re-union of the UNITED SONS 
OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS, and shall decide all 
questions of law, order or usage. He shall be empowered 
to act for the good of the Confederation, as circumstances, 
in his judgment, may require, in cases not provided for by 
this CoDstitution; subject in all such decisions and acts to 
appeal to the Annual Reunion. Immediately after enter- 
ing upon his oflace, he shall appoint his Staff and all other 
General OflBcers and Committees not otherwise provided 
for, and may remove these Officers and Committees at his 
pleasure. During the interim between Re-unions he shall 
have full charge of the conduct of the affairs of the Con- 
federation, amenable in all cases to the next Re-union. 

DEPARTMENT COMMANDERS. 

Sec. 28.— The Department Commanders shall command 
Departments. They shall assist the Commander-in-Chief 
by counsel or otherwise, and in his absence or disability 
they shall fill his office according to seniority in office. They 
shall encourage the enrollment into Camps of all Sons of 
Veterans of the Confederacy, in their Departments; super- 
vise the work of their Divisions, and see to the enforce- 
ment of all orders from General Headquarters; and send 
annual reports to the Commander-in-Chief one month be- 
fore the Annual Re-union. They shall appoint their Staff 
immediately after entering upon their office. 

DIVISION COMMANDERS. 

Sec. 29.— Division Commanders shall command Divisions, 
each State and Territory forming but one Division. They 
shall apply themselves to fully organize their States or Ter- 
ritories into Camps; they shall be careful to have all the 
requirements of the Constitution strictly complied with 
in the formation of Camps, and be intermediary in their 
relations with General and Department Headquarters, and 
see to the execution of all orders received therefrom; as- 



sist the Department Commanders by counsel or otherwise, 
and in their absence or disability fill their office until the 
next Annual Re-union, according to seniority in office. They 
shall appoint their Staff immediately after entering upon 
the duties of their offices. 

BRIGADE COMMANDERS. 

Sec. 30.— Brigade Commanders shall command the Bri- 
gades, into which it may be found necessary to divide a 
Division. They shall be under the Division Commander 
and assist him in organizing the Division; see to the exe- 
cution of all orders received through him according to sen- 
iority in office. They shall be intermediary between the 
Division Commander and the Camps of their Brigades, and 
vice versa. They shall appoint their Staff immediately af- 
ter entering upon the duties of their office, and shall be 
allowed as many Aides as they may deem necessary to 
facilitate the formation of Camps in their territory. 

STAFF OFFICERS. 

Sec. 31.— The Adjutant-General shall be Chief of Staff of 
the Commander-in-Chief. He shall keep correct records 
of the proceedings of the General Headquarters, and the 
Annual Re-unions; a roster of the Department, Division, 
B.rigades and Camp Officers, and a roll of the Camps; con- 
duct the correspondence of the Confederation and issue the 
necessary orders under the direction of the Commander-in- 
Chief; be the keeper of the seal of the Confederation, and 
issue under it all certificates of membership commissions 
and documents; draw requisitions for funds on the Quar- 
termaster-General, to be approved by the Commander-in- 
Chief, and perform such other duties, and keep such other 
books and records as the Commander-in-Chief may require. 

He shall make an annual report to the Commander-in- 
Chief, showing the work performed by his office and the 
conditions of the Confederation. 



—10— 

Sec. 32.— The Quartermaster-General shall hold the futuis 
and vouchers of the Confederation; pay all warrants drawn 
on him by the Adjutant-General, and approved by the Coin- 
mander-in-Chief; have charge of all arrangements and ex- 
penses for accommodation of General Headquarters al (he 
Annual Re-unions; and facilitate the transportation by rail- 
roads of delegates to the meetings of the Confederation. 

Sec. 33.— The Inspector-General shall prescribe the form 
of blanks to be used for the inspection of Camps, and, 
with the approval of the Commander-in-Chief, give such 
special instructions as may be deemed necessary; prepare 
an abstract of the reports received from Departments for 
the information of the Commander-in-Chief, and present 
a report to the Annual Re-union. He shall have charge of 
all investigations ordered for infractions of the Constitu- 
tion by the Camps, or for conduct of any Camp or individ- 
ual referred to him by the Commander-in-Chief. 

Sec. 34.— The Surgeon-General shall perform the duties 
properly appertaining to his office, and present at the An- 
nual Re-union a report or paper on matters relating to the 
medical and surgical branch of the Confederate Service. 

Sec. 35.— The Commissary-General shall attend to any 
duties the Commander-in-Chief may impose upon him, and 
he shall, at the Annual Re-union, present a written report 
or paper on matters relating to the commissariat of the 
Confederate Army. 

Sec. 36.— The Chaplain-General shall open and close 
with prayer the Annual Re-unions and other meetings, and 
perform such duties in connection with his office as the 
Commander-in-Chief may require. He shall present at 
the Annual Re-union a written report or paper upon tJie 
matters relating to this branch of the Confederate Service. 
Sec. 37.— The Judge- Advocate-General shall perform the 
duties appertaining to that office, and give all legal advice 
that may be required of him by the Commander-in-Chief. 
He shall present at the Annual Re-union a report and pa- 



per on the history of his department of the Confederate 
Service. 

SUBORDINATE STAFFS. 
Sec. 38.— The Subordinate Staffs shall perform in their 
respective spheres the duties of their offices, in conformity 
with the regulations imposed on the General Staff, as far 
as they can be applied. 

ARTICLE VII. 
CAMPS. 

Sec. 39.— Camps may be formed with not less than ten 
(10) charter members. 

Sec. 40.— Applications by Camps for membership in the 
Confederation shall be made to the Commander-in-Chief, 
upon blanks furnished by the Genera) Headquarters. 

Sec. 41.— When the Constitution and Roll of Members of 
the applying- Camp have been examined and found to be 
(!orrect, and when the application is accompanied by the 
membership fee and the per capita tax, the Camp shall 
be admitted, and a certificate of membership issued to it, 
signed by the Commander-in-Chief and the Adjutant-Gen- 
eral. 

Sec. 42.— Provided, also, that Camps may be formed with 
fewer than ten members, but not less than five (5) mem- 
bers, in remote and sparsely settled localities, or in places 
outside of the former Confederate States, and admitted into 
the Confederation, by order of the Commander-in-Chief, up- 
on proper application and recommendation of subordinate 
officers, and after compliance with all other requisites of 
membership, and after such other investigation into the 
circumstances of this reduced membership as the Com- 
mander-in-Chief may deem fit to institute through the In- 
spector-General; but no more Camps will be allowed in the 
same locality until the one thus admitted has attained the 
numbiH" of twenty members. 



—12— 

Sec. 43.— All Camps will be permitted to retain their local 
and State organizations, and beyond the requirements of 
this Constitution, they shall have full enjoyment of the 
right to govern themselves; provided, they shall always be 
subject to this Constitution and Amendments thereof. 
Camps are referred to the annexed form for guidance in 
adopting a suitable Constitution. 

Sec. 44.— Camp Officers shall have their duties defined by 
the Constitution of the Camps that create them, provided 
the duties so defined be not in conflict with -the provisions 
of this Constitution. 

ARTICLE VIII. 
DEPARTMENTS AND DIVISIONS. 

Sec. 45.— The Camps shall be organized by Departments, 
Divisions and Brigades. 

Sec. 46.— There shall be three Departments, to be called: 

Army of Northern Virginia Department, Army of Tennes- 
see Department, Trans-Mississippi Department. 

Sec. 47.— The Army of Northern Virginia Department 
shall include and be formed of the States of Virginia, Mary- 
land, West Virginia, North and South Carolina and Ken- 
tucky. 

Sec. 48.— The Army of Tennessee Department shall in- 
clude and be formed of the States of Georgia, Alabama, 
Tennessee, Mississippi, Louisiana and Florida. 

Sec. 49.— The Trans-Mississippi Department shall include 
and be formed of the States of Arkansas, Texas and Mis- 
souri, and the Indian Territory. 

Sec. 50.— Divisions and Camps not hereinbefore mention- 
ed shall be a part of and under the control of Departments, 
as follows: Those located east of the State of Ohio and 
north of the State of Virginia, of the Army of Northern 
Virginia Department; those located west of the Mississippi 
River, of the Trans-Mississippi Department, and all others 
of the Army of Tennessee Department. 



—13— 

Sec. 51.— Each and every State and Territory having 
within its boundaries five (5) or more Camps regularly or- 
ganized and chartered, shall constitute a Division, and no 
State or Territory shall have more than one Division within 
its boundaries. 

Sec. 52.— Camps in States or Territories where there are 
less than five (5) Camps, shall report directly to the De- 
partment Commander, upon whose recommendation such 
Camps may be formed into a Division by the Commander- 
in-Chief appointing a Division Commander, until they at- 
tain the required number of ^amps to entitle them to or- 
ganize themselves. 

Sec. 53.— Each Division shall be sub-divided by coun- 
ties, or other convenient sub-divisions, into as many Bri- 
gades as shall be deemed advisable by the Division Con- 
vention. 

ARTICLE IX. 
MEETINGS. 

Sec. 54.— There shall be held annually a Re-union of the 
Confederation at the same time and place as the "United 
Confederate Veterans." Each Division shall likewise have 
an Annual Re-union. 

Sec. 55.— The Commander-in-Chief, at the request of a. 
majority of the Camps, shall convene the Confederation in 
special meeting, and may do so upon his own motion if he 
deems the emergency sufficient. Special meetings of Di- 
visions shall likewise be called by the Division Commander 
at the request of a majority of the Camps of their Divisions 
or in any emergency which he may deem sufficient. 

Sec. 56.— At all meetings delegates shall address each other 
as "Comrades." 

Sec. 57.— The Annual Convention or Re-union shall be 
called to order by the Commander of the Camp where the 
meeting is held. After prayer, by the Chaplain-General 

i 



—14— 

(or in his absence the ranking chaplain), and the address of 
welcome, it shall be turned over to the commanding officers 
in turn to the Commander-in-Chief, who will take charge 
of the Re-union, and instruct the Adjutant-General to call 
the roll of General Officers of the Confederation, and of its 
Camps in numerical order. As the Camps are called, the 
chairman of each delegation will answer and hand to the 
Adjutant-General the credentials of his delegation. 

The Commander-in-Chief shall then appoint a Committee 
on Credentials, to whom shall be referred all the credentials 
of delegates. This committee shall verify these by report of 
Adjutant-General; arrange the roll of the Convention and 
assign each Camp its number of votes. This report shall be 
signed by the committee and handed to the Commander-in- 
Chief. After the approval of this the meeting shall proceed 
to business on the basis fixed therein. 

Sec. 58.— Every comrade in this Confederation in good 
standing, and every Confederate Veteran in good standing, 
will be privileged to attend the meetings of any organiza- 
tion belonging to the UNITED SONS OF CONFEDERATE 
VETERANS, and receive that fraternal consideration they 
are designed to foster. 

ARTICLE X. 
REPRESENTATON— DELEGATES, PROXIES, VOTING. 

Sec. 59.— The representation of the various Camps at the 
Annual Re-union, General, Department, Division and Bri- 
gade, shall be by delegates as follow^s: one delegate for every 
ten (10) active members in good standing in the Camp, and 
one additional for a fraction thereof of five (5) or more; 
provided, that every Camp in good standing shall be en- 
titled to at least two (2) delegates. All delegates must have 
credentials signed by the Commandant and Adjutant of 
their respective Camps, attached to which shall be the cer- 
tificate issued by the Adjutant-General, in accordance with 
Section 60, or they can not be recognized; provided, Divis- 
iono may fix their internal representation. 



—15— 

Sec. 60.— The Adjutant-General shall send out blank mus- 
ter rolls to the various Camps at least sixty days before the 
Annual Re-union. These blanks shall be filled out by the 
Adjutant of each Gamp and certified to, as the correct roll 
of the Camp, and returned to the Adjutant-General before 
the first day of the month next preceding the Annual Re- 
union. Upon this certified roll will be computed the Camp's 
represention at the Annual Re-union, and a certificate issued 
to the Camp, signed by the Adjutant-General, certifying to 
the number of votes to which it is entitled, if the dues have 
been paid in full. 

Sec. 61.— On enumerating active members of Camps for 
representation, none shall be counted who are already thus 
enumerated in another Camp of the Confederation. Mem- 
bership in more than one Camp is not forbidden, but no 
comrade shall be borne on the rolls of more than one Camp 
for the. purpose of enumeration and representation. When 
a comrade is a member of more than one Camp, he shall 
elect in which one he will be enrolled for representation. 

Sec. 62.— The Commander-in-Chief, Department, Division, 
and Brigade Commanders and their Adjutants, shall be ex- 
ofiicio members of the Annual Re-unions, 

Sec. 63.— Camps will not be allowed representation unless 
their per capita tax shall have been paid the Adjutant- 
General, in full, as required by this Constitution. (Sections 
60, 63. 83 and 102. 

Sec. 64.— No representation by proxies or members of other 
Camps shall be allowed at any meetings of this Confedera- 
tion, or its sub-divisions. 



ARTICLE XI. 
VOTING. 

Sec. 65.— In all questions submitted to the meeting, the 
Chair shall put the question for a viva voce vote. If the 
roll of Camps shall be called for, then the Camps shall be 



—16— 

called in order, the number of votes each is entitled to 
stated, and the vote for and against Ihe motion announced 
by the chairman of each delegation. 

Sec. 66.— Balloting shall be by Camps; the chairman of the 
delegation depositing the written ballots for the Camp, 
v^here written ballots are required. In balloting for offi- 
cers, a majority of all votes cast shall be necessary to a 
choice. Officers may be voted for viva voce, unless twenty- 
five votes or one-third of the votes present demand a writ- 
ten ballot. 

Sec. 67.— Each Department and Division shall have two 
votes in all cases. Said votes may be cast by the respective 
Commanders, if present, if not, by the oldest Camp in the 
Department, or Division (as the case may be), having a 
delegate present. Past Commanders-in-Chief shall have one 
vote each in all cases. 

Sec. 68.— When there is but one candidate for an office, 
upon motion, and by unanimous consent, a formal ballot 
can be dispensed with, and the candidate be elected by ac- 
clamation. 

Sec. 69.— The ayes and nays may be required and entered 
upon record at the call of any three delegates from differ- 
ent Camps. 

ARTICLE XII. 

UNIFORM, SEAL, BADGES, MEMORIAL DAY, ETC. 

Sec. 70.— The following uniform is hereby adopted for this 
Confederation: The same uniform, insignia, trappings, etc., as 
have been adopted by the United Confederate Veterans, with 
the following exceptions and additions, to-wit: For all mem- 
bers (officers and privates), shoulder-straps (one on each 
shoulder) of white wool cloth, with gold border, and the 
letters "U. S. C. V." in the center; lettering, wherever it 
may occur on the uniform (including buttons and trappings) 
"U. S. C. V." instead of "U. C. V.;" and hat the same as 
that used by the U. C. V., or a grey Confederate cap, at 



—17— 

the option of the Camp, or wearer; for Department Com- 
manders, cuffs and collars faced with buff; and for the 
Commander-in-Chief the same uniform as that prescribed 
for Department Commanders, except without facing on 
cuffs or collar. 

For a full descriDtion of the uniform, etc., adoDted by the 
United Confederate Veterans reference is made to the an- 
nexed appendix, which is hereby made a part hereof. 

Sc. 71.— The Seal of this Confederation shall be a medal 
of the same dimensions as that of the "United Confederate 
Veterans," reproducing the great seal of the Confederate 
States of America, bearing "UNITED SONS OF CONFED- 
ERATE VETERANS, Richmond, Va., July 1, 1896," inscrib- 
ed between the wreath and margin; it shall be kept in the 
custody of the Adjutant-General. 

Sec. 72.— The Badge of the "UNITED SONS OF CON- 
FEDERATE VETERANS" shall be a circular medallion 
three-quarters of an inch in diameter; the rim a white 
enamel band, one-eighth of an inch wide on face; the center 
field of gold and slightly depressed, containing in relief the 
two battle flags of the Confederacy crossed, and beneath 
these the date "1896"; the flags properly enameled in colors; 
the words, "United Sons of Confederate Veterans," to ap- 
pear upon the rim in gold letters in the order shown, and 
arranged in four equal divisions, formed by four "buckles" 
or ornaments of blue enamel. The badge may be worn pen- 
dant by means of a red and white ribbon, attached to a 
bar, bearing the name and number of the Camp. They 
shall be ordered through the Commander-in-Chief. 

Sec. 73.— A neat, inexpensive button, bearing a represen- 
tation of the foregoing, may be provided by the Commander- 
in-Chief and furnished to the members at as low a price as 
possible. 

Sec. 74.— This Confederation shall religiously observe the 
celebration of Memorial Day, which Memorial Day shall be 



-18— 

the same as that prescribed by the iT.spective Divisions of 
the "United Confederate Veterans," and the Veteran Camps. 
Sec. 75.— A newspaper or other journal may be established 
or adopted, to be conducted wholly or mainly in the interest 
of this Confederation. 

ARTICLE XIII. 
SPECIAi^ POWERS. 

Sec. 76.— This Confederation shall have power to make 
and adopt such articles of organization, rules and regula- 
tions as its members may deem proper, and to alter, amend 
and repeal the same, as they may see fit; provided, that 
such articles, rules, regulations and by-laws shall not be re- 
pugnant to this Constitution, or to the Constitution of the 
United States. 

Sec. 77.— It shall issue commissions to all its officers. Gen- 
eral, Department, Division, Brigade, Camp and Staff; cer- 
tificates of membership to Camps joining this Confederation, 
and to the individual members thereof. All such document? 
to be issued by the Adjutant-General, upon direction of the 
Commander-in-Chief, and shall be signed by these two of- 
ficers and bear the seal of the Confederation. It shall levy 
an annual per capita tax upon its members; and regulate the 
collection of such income for the general treasmT, its cus- 
tody, and its disbursement. 

ARTICLE XIV. 
PROHIBITIONS. 

Sec. 78.— No discussion of political or religious subjects, 
nor any political action, or endorsing of aspirants for politi- 
cal office, shall be permitted in any organization of the 
UNITED SONS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS, or by 
the General Confederation. 

Sec. 79.— No debts shall be contracted by this Confedera- 
tion. 



Sec. 80.— No assessment shall be leTied upon its members 
other than the fees and per capita tax, which shall never 
exceed an adequate amount to meet the expense of its 
management. 

Sec. 81.— l^he use of the seal, badges, or name of this 
Confederation, for business or advertising purposes, a«id the 
giving of its badges to persons unauthorized to wear it, are 
emphatically prohibited. 

Sec. 82.— Military titles used in the Confederate Army or 
Navy shall not be given to or used by members or officers 
of this Confederation, by reason of their being such mem- 
bers or officers. 

AETICLE XV. 
PENALTIES— SUSPENSION. 

Sec. 83.— No Camp shall be permitted representation in 
any meeting of this Confederation until said Camp shall 
have paid the annual per capita tax and all other amounts 
due the Confederation by said Camp. Any Camp in arrears 
for its per capita tax six months after any Annual Re-union, 
shall have five (5) per cent, of the amount added to the 
same. 

Sec. 84.— Suspension of a Camp shall not effect the mem- 
bership in the UNITED SONS OE CONFEDERATE VET- 
ERANS of comrades of such Camps, nor impair their tenure 
of office or eligibility as officers therein during such sus- 
pension. Prolonged suspension of a Camp may be de- 
clared at an Annual Re-union for an act detrimental to the 
objects and purposes of the Confederation, and shall lead 
to forfeiture of membership by the Camp. 

Sec. 85.— Re-instatement from suspension will take effect 
immediately upon receipt by the Commander-in-Chief of evi- 
dence of the removal, by the suspended Camp of its cause of 
suspension. 

Sec. 86.— During the interim between Conventions the 
Commauder-in-Chief shall have power to suspend any Camp 



-20- 

or officers, for conduct detrimental to the Confederation, 
upon proper proof. Said action to be reported to the next 
Convention for permanent sentence. 

Sec. 87.— Forfeiture of- membershi shall be declared 
against any Camp allowing political or religious discussions 
or takjng any such action. 

Sec. 88.— Forfeiture of membership may also be declared 
against any Camp committing an act repugnant to this 
Constitution or detrimental to the objects and purposes of 
the Confederation; and against any Camp in arrears for 
one year's dues, which remain unpaid after written notice 
by the Adjutant-General. 

Sec. 89.— Forfeiture of membership shall be declared by a 
two-thirds vote at an Annual Ke-union after proper inves- 
tigation of the charges, and only when they have been sub- 
stantiated. 

ARTICLE XVI. 
PERMANENT ARCHIVES. 
Sec. 90.— The Archives of the Confederation shall be per- 
manently located at Richmond, Virginia. In it shall be 
kept all Confederate relics, books, histories, records, etc., 
which may be acquired by the Confederation. Copies of all 
orders, reports and official papers of the Confederation shall 
also be kept there. It shall be governed by a committee 
composed of one comrade from each Division, elected by the 
delegates at each Annual Re-union of the Confederation. The 
direct management shall be placed in an Executive Com- 
mittee, composed of three (3) members of Camp R. E. Lee 
No. 1, of Richmond. The chairman to be appointed by the 
Commander-in-Chief, one elected by the Camp, and one ap- 
pointed by the Virginia Division Commander. 

ARTICLE XVII. 
COMMITTEES. 

Sec. 91.— There shall be four Standing Committees, ap- 
pointed by the Commander-in-Chief, to consist of one mem- 



—31— 

ber from each Division, and one to represent the Camps out- 
side the former Confederate States. They shall be as fol- 
lows: 

Sec. 92. Historical Committee, that shall have charge of 
all matters relating to the literary and historical purposes of' 
this Confederation. 

Sec. 93.— Relief Committee, that shall have charge of all 
matters relating to relief, pensions, homes and other benevo- 
lent purposes of this Confederacy; 

Sec. 94.— Monumental Committee, that shall have charge 
of all matters relating to monuments, graves and the Con- 
federation's objects and purposes in these respects; and 

Sec. 95.— Finance Committee, to verify accounts of offi- 
cers, to fix the compensation of same vv^hen it becomes 
necsesary, under the advice and approval of the Com- 
mander-in-Chief, and to attend to such other matters of 
finance as may be referred to it. 

Sec. 96.— These Committees may sub-divide themselves for 
purposes of facilitating their labors, and shall keep a rec- 
ord of their meetings, make reports annually, or oftener, if 
required by the Commander-in-Chief, and shall turn over 
their records to the Adjutant-General at the expiration of 
their term of office. 

SPECIAL COMMITTEES. 

Sec. 97.— Special Committees can be appointed by the 
Commander-in-Chief when a necessity arises, and shall be 
appointed by him when so ordered by the Annual Re-union. 

Sec. 98.— All Committees shall meet when called by their 
chairman. Reports of committees shall be sent to the Com- 
mander-in-Chief one month before the Annual Re-union 

ARTICLE XYIII. 

FINANCES. 

Sec. 99.— A charter fee of Two Dollars ($2 00) shall be 
paid by each new Camp, which shall accompany its applica- 



—23— 

tion, and entitle the Camp, if admitted, upon the payment 
of one j^ear's per capita tax, to a certificate of membership 
free from cost of postage. 

Sec. 100.— A fee of One Dollar ($1.00) shall be paid for 
each commission issued to officers, or certificates to individ- 
ual members of Camps, and shall be remitted to General 
Headquarters, which fee shall include postage. 

Sec. 101— A yearly per capita tax of ten cents (10c) shall 
be paid by each Camp for every active member in good 
standing in such Camp, and not enumerated in any other 
Camp. 

Sec. 102.— The fiscal year of this Confederation shall be 
from the end of one Annual Ee-union to the end of the 
next Annual Re-union. All Camps shall be liable for the 
full year's per capita tax for the fiscal year in which they 
are organized, without regard to the time of organization 
and w^hen chartered, shall remit the same in full. The per 
capita tax of Camps shall be paid annually, before the 
Annual Re-union, and shall be calculated upon the number 
of members shown by the annual muster roll. 

Sec. 103.— The Commander-in-Chief shall fix the price for 
badges, books and blanks required and issued by the Con 
federation, which shall not exceed an amount sufficient to 
defray their cost and distribution. 

Sec. 104.— All funds, from whatever source and for what- 
ever purpose, shall be immediately pa'd over to the Quarter- 
master-General, who shall give bond therefor in a sum 
double in amount the total of funds received from all 
sources during the preceding fiscal year. He shall receive 
a salary sufficient to pay the cost of said bond only. 

Sec. 105. — The per capita tax of ten cents may be appor- 
tioned out as follows: Nine cents (9c.) to General Head- 
quarters and one cent (Ic.) to the Department Headquar- 
ters from which it was paid. 

Sec. 106.— Divisions may levy additional fees and per capi- 
ta tax upon their Camps, for their own purposes, and to 



mt'et their internal expenses; same to be paid to their Head- 
quarters direct, 

ARTICLE XIX. 

HEADQUARTERS« 

Sec. 107.— General Headquarters of this Confederation 
shall be the place of -residence of its Commander-in-Chief. 
Department, Division and Brigade Headquarters shall be 
respectivelj^ the places of residence of the Commanders of 
each. 

ARTICLJB XX. 

Sec. 108.— This Constitution shall cnly be altered or 
amended at an Annual Re-tmion by two-thirds (%) of the 
votes cast. No amendment can be considered unless v^rit- 
ten notice thereof, with copy of proposed change, shall 
have been sent to each Canip at least three months in ad- 
vance of the Annual Re-union. This may be sent by any 
member and shall be sent by the Adjutant-General upon 
timely request. Any Section herein may be suspended for 
the time being, at any Annual Re-union, by a unanimous 
vote of the vote cast, with exception of Section 108. 



, We, the undersigned Constitutional Committee, beg leave 
to submit the foregoing as our report in revision of the 
Constitution. 

C. H. E^AUNTLEROY, Chairman, 

THOMAS E. POWE. 



I differ from the Committee and disapprove of new Sec- 
Ions 11 and 12, Sec. 20, and Sec. tO. 

EDWIN P. COX. 



-34- 



APPENDIX. 



Information and design for uniform and dress of the 
United Confederate Veteran Association ; 

1. Uniform for Department and Division Commanders.— 
A dress coat with turn-down collar, same cut as that us- 
ually worn by our beloved commander. Gen. Robt. E. Lee, 
as shown in most of his pictures now extant, made from 
Cadet gray, shade of gray same as No. 1238, manufactured 
by Charlottesville Woolen Mills, Charlottesville, Va., which 
for the sake of uniformity in shade of cloth, is designated as 
the mill from which to buy the same. 

The insignia of rank, the number and arrangement of 
buttons on coat to be same as that of like rank in Confed- 
erate States Army. Pants same cloth as coat. 

2. The color of trimmings for uniforms of General Offi- 
cers will be buff, same as used in the Confederate Army, 
which includes the Adjutant General, Quartermaster Gen- 
eral, Commissary General, Engineer and Aide-de-Camp. 

3. Medical Officers— black. 

4. Artillery Officers— red. 

5. Cavalry Officers— yellow. 

6. Infantry Officers— light blue. 

7. The buttons for general officers, and camps, same for 
all purposes— bright gilt, rounded edge, slightly convex with 
raised Confederate battle flag in the center, surrounded on 
the four sides with the letters U. C. V., and the figures 1861- 



—25— 

1865. Large size button— one inch in exterior diameter. 
Small size for coat sleeves— half inch. 

8. For all officers a waist belt, not less than one and 
one-half inches nor more than two inches wide. Slings of 
same material as the belt, with hook attached upon which 
the sword may be hung. 

9. For Department, Division and Brigade Commanders. 
Russian leather with thee stripes of gold embroidery 

10. For all other officers, regardless of the arm of ser- 
vice, black leather stitched. Non-commissioned officers 
may wear same belt without slings. 

11. For all Officers, General Staff and Camps, a belt 
plate, with a raised bright rim; a silver wreath of laurel 
encircling the letters C. S. A. 

12. For all Camps, officers and men the same— a black 
cocked hat of military shape. Brim fastened up on the right 
side with wreath and letters, U. C. V. General officers and 
mounted Staff same hat with black plume, 

13.- LEGGINGS AND SPURS— For mounted officers, 
black duck of late military cut, with buff colored buckle 
strap fastenings. Spurs yellow metal or gilt. 

14. Camps named in honor of favorite officers or pri- 
vates may uniform for the same arm of service to which 
said comrade belonged. In this way intensify their es- 
teem for those whose memory they seek to honor and per- 
petuate. Thus giving representation to the uniform of 
each arm of the service. 

15. COLORS OF TRIMMINGS.-Infantry, Light Blue; 
Artillery, Red; Cavalry, Yellow. 

16. The Camp uniform to be made from same shade of 
gray and grade of cloth as indicated for general officers and 
staff, viz.: No. 1238, Charlottesville Woolen Mills, Charlottes- 
ville, Va. 

17. Coat to be a single breasted blouse, skirt extending 
to a line with the crotch, stand-up collar, cut no higher than " 



—26— 

to permit the cliin to turn freely over it and slope upward 
and backward at an angle of thirty degrees on each side; 
seven buttons in front and three on the sleeves, regulation 
size. The collar of coat to be trimmed with a small flat 
worsted braid (color to indicate the arm or service) about 
one-fourth of an inch wide at top and bottom on the out- 
side. Cuffs to be trimmed with same material, broken 
around two and one-half inches from end on bottom side 
and sloping upward to a point four inches from end of 
sleeve. 

18. Pants to be made from same shade and grade of 
cloth as indicated for coat, trimmed with a narrow stripe 
about one-half inch wide, placed along the outer seam of 
pant leg, of such color as to indicate the arm of service. 

19. The same uniform for both camp officers and men, 
except the officers will wear their insignia of rank same as 
that worn in the Army of the Confederate States. 

20. Camps may adopt a facing for trimming collars and 
cuffs instead of outlining with a worsted braid, using such 
color of cloth for facing as to indicate the arm of service, 
as said Camp may select. 

21. Camps may leave off all trimming from uniform and 
use a small turn-over collar to coat, where the Camp, as an 
organization, elects to do so. 

Department Commanders.— A dress coat with turn-down 
collar; edges piped with buff; two row^s of buttons on breast, 
nine in each row, placed in threes. Distance between the 
row^s, four inches at top and three inches at bottom. Three 
embroidered stars on each side of collar, the center star one 
and one-quarter inches, the others one inch each in diameter, 
all inclosed in embroidered wreath 

Division Commanders.— Same as for Department Com- 
manders, without the buff piping, but with four rows of 
gold braid on sleeves. 

Brigade Commanders.— Dress coat same as provided for 
Brigadier General in the Confederate States Army; stand 



F 



-27— 

np collar, buff cloth collar and cuffs, and edges pip- 
ed with buff. Two rows of buttons on breast, eight in 
each row; placed in pairs; distance between rows, four inch- 
es at top and three inches at bottom. Insignia of rank, a 
wreath enclosing three embroidered stars of one inch each 
on each side of collar, and four rows of gold braid on the 
sleeves. 

Staff Officers.— Same, except insignia number and arrange- 
ment of buttons, according to rank. 

Colonel.— Two rows of buttons, seven in each, and three 
on the sleeves. Three embroidered stars of one inch each 
on collar, and three rows of gold braid on sleeves. 

Lieutenant Colonel.— Same, except two stars. 

Fatigue Uniform for Brigade and Division Commanders. 

Blouse— Double breasted, edges piped wath buff, turn- 
doAvn collar, no facing on cuffs or collar, no braid on sleeves; 
two rows of buttons, placed by threes for Division Comman- 
ders, and by twos for Brigade Commanders. Embroidered 
insignia of rank on collar. 

Fatigue Uniform for Staff Officers.— Regulation fatigue 
blouses for staff officers below^ the rank of Brigadier-General, 
single breasted, skirt extending to a line with the crotch: 
stand-up collar, seven regulation U. C. V. buttons in front 
and three on sleeves; cuffs and collar faced with buff (staff 
color), sleeves trimmed with fine gilt braid, and insignia or. 
collar indicating staff rank. 

Trousers wdthout stripe. Adjutant Generals of the re- 
spective staffs may elect to use turn-down collar, and may 
leave off braid and facing in cuffs and collars. This, how^- 
ever, for the sake of uniformity should only be done when 
adopted for all of said staff organizations. 

Camp Officers.— Commander, rank of Major— Single- 
breasted sack or blouse, stand-up collar with one star on 
each side, one inch each; one row of seven buttons on 
breast and thre rows of braid on sleeves. 

Lieutenant Commanders, Adjutant, Surgeon and Chap- 



—28— 

lains rank as Captains — Same, except three bars od each 
side of coat collar, and two rows of braid on sleeves. 

Surgeons.— Black facings and gilt braid. 

Chaplain, black braid on sleeves and cross on collar, in 
place of bars. 

Assistant Surgeon, Officers of the Day and Treasurer 
rank as First Lieutenant— Same, except two bars on each 
side of coat collar and one row of braid on sleeves. 

Sergeant Major rank as First Sergeant— Insignia, Ser- 
geant Major's chevrons— three bars and an arc. 

Vidette rank as First Sergeant— Insignia, Orderly Ser- 
geant's chevrons— three bars and a lozenge. 

Color Sergeants— Insignia, Color Sergeants' chevrons. 

Two Color Guards— Insignia, Second Sergeants' chevrons. 
(Note:— No provision being made herein for the following 
officers, it was ordered by Commander-in-Chief R. B. Haugh- 
ton in General Order No. 7, February 15, 1902, that the fol- 
lowing uniforms be adopted: 

For Second Lieutenant Commander, same as First Lieu- 
tenant Commander. LIBRflRY OF CONGREI 

For Quartermaster, same as Adjutant. '""I''lll"''l lllilllllllliilllliiilllllllllll 

For Historian, same as Adjutant.) 




013 701 573 C 

HEADQUARTERS 

United Sons of Confederate Veterans, 
St. Louis, Mo., April 30, 1902. 

The foregoing is the general Constitution of the "UISIITED 
SONS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS," as revised and 
adopted at Dallas, Tex., during the Seventh Annual Reunion, 
April 22d to 25th, 1902. 

R. B. Haughton, 
Official : Commander-in-Chief. 

William Horner Cocke, 

Adjutant-General and Chief of Staff. 



